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Assessing Coherence between Sector Policies and Climate Compatible Development: Opportunities for Triple Wins

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  • Philip Antwi-Agyei

    (Department of Environmental Science, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, PMB, University Post Office, Kumasi, Ghana)

  • Andrew J. Dougill

    (Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK)

  • Lindsay C. Stringer

    (Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK)

Abstract

Climate Compatible Development (CCD) aims to deliver adaptation and mitigation without compromising development progress. To date, adaptation, mitigation and development related to key climate-sensitive sectors have often been treated separately. This paper uses qualitative document analysis, content analysis, expert interviews and a multi-stakeholder workshop to: examine the extent to which policies in climate-sensitive sectors align in framing adaptation, mitigation and development action; and identify key areas of policy coherence in Ghana. The paper answers the following questions: (i) To what extent are Ghana’s agriculture, energy, water, forest and wildlife sector policies aligned with climate adaptation, mitigation and development? (ii) What is the extent of policy coherence amongst climate-sensitive sector policies? (iii) Where are the key intervention points available to enhance CCD activities? Findings demonstrate that Ghana’s climate-sensitive sector policies in agriculture, water, energy, forest and wildlife arenas have elements that demonstrate good alignment with adaptation, mitigation, and development priorities. However, as yet, there is only “limited coherence” between climate-sensitive sector policies. The paper identifies the following intervention points: (i) the need to attach greater importance to the threat posed by climate change to agriculture; and (ii) the need to address the lack of inter-agency and inter-ministerial approaches for building partnerships with other stakeholders. Multi-stakeholder workshop discussions highlighted significant challenges relating to limited coordination amongst institutions and agencies, limited institutional capacity and a lack of resources in ensuring coherence. This requires strengthening of national institutions such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide appropriate mechanisms to ensure effective collaboration amongst climate-sensitive sectors to deliver “triple wins”. The EPA could exert greater influence by nominating “climate champions” in sector ministries.

Suggested Citation

  • Philip Antwi-Agyei & Andrew J. Dougill & Lindsay C. Stringer, 2017. "Assessing Coherence between Sector Policies and Climate Compatible Development: Opportunities for Triple Wins," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-16, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:11:p:2130-:d:119485
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    Cited by:

    1. Clint T. Lewis & Ming-Chien Su, 2021. "Climate Change Adaptation and Sectoral Policy Coherence in the Caribbean," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-22, July.
    2. Reinhilde Bouckaert & Claire Dupont, 2025. "Assessing the alignment of EU and member states external energy strategies with the European green deal: 2019–2024," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 25(2), pages 303-320, June.
    3. Cornelius K. A. Pienaah & Evans Batung & Suleman Ansumah Saaka & Kamaldeen Mohammed & Isaac Luginaah, 2023. "Early Warnings and Perceived Climate Change Preparedness among Smallholder Farmers in the Upper West Region of Ghana," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-19, October.
    4. Omid Zamani & Craig Chibanda & Mavis Boimah & Collins Asante-Addo, 2025. "Aligning policy for success in developing countries: evidence from the poultry sector of Ghana," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 13(1), pages 1-19, December.
    5. Adranyi, Enoch & Stringer, Lindsay C. & Altink, Henrice, 2024. "Artisanal and small-scale gold mining governance and cross-sectoral policy coherence in Ghana," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).

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